The word "re-cent" means something that has occurred recently or has been brought up again. The antonym for re-cent is "old" or "ancient." Old refers to something that has existed for a long time and is no longer new or modern. Ancient, on the other hand, refers to something that is of great age, often pre-dating recorded history. It is often used to describe artifacts, societies, or ruins from the distant past. While re-cent is associated with novelty and newness, old and ancient represent the opposite end of the spectrum, with associations of past and time-worn.